Guiding is a worldwide autonomous and independent organization of educational scope, addressed to children and young people. It stands as the “World’s Biggest Club” and is present at 90 cities in Greece, 153 countries across the globe, having about 11,200,000 registered members around the world.

Guiding is a meaningful game. It provides opportunities for children and young people (aged 5 to 17) to:

  • challenge themselves to new adventures and gain experiences,
  • gain confidence in themselves and their abilities,
  • develop their own personal value system to provide meaning and guidance to their lives,
  • develop critical thinking and decision-making skills,
  • make new friends and have fun,
  • become more tolerant, fair, kind and honest
  • learn the value of teamwork and develop leadership skills,
  • love and protect the natural environment,
  • gain insight and knowledge about the world, people and diverse cultures.

Pedagogical Guiding Program

Through modern activities, chosen by a meticulously crafted framework of self-governance and personal development, children and young people acquire valuable experiences and accept values such as respect, loyalty, cooperation and friendship. The Pedagogical Guiding Program is thoughtfully tailored to the needs of each age group. Therefore, children and young people are divided into 4 major groups that make up the 4 Branches:

  1. Stars, girls and boys 5 to 7 years old
  2. Birds, girls and boys 7 to 11 years old
  3. Guides, girls and boys 11 to 14 years old
  4. Senior Guides, girls and boys 14 to 17 years old

The Pedagogical Guiding Program is based on three pillars and offers children and young people opportunities for:

  • Personal Development: activities through which physical, spiritual and mental development of children and young people is pursued,
  • Social Participation-Contribution: activities which help children and young people to participate and contribute to society,
  • Life in Nature – Ecological Awareness: activities which foster love and respect for nature and the environment in children and young people,

More information on the activities and programs can be found on the pages of the Branches.

Basic principles of Guiding

  • Guiding embraces children and young people regardless of their background, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, or special needs, as long as they are willing to keep the Guiding Promise,
  • Guiding respects cultural identities and diversity of individuals and countries,
  • Guiding operates solely through the voluntary participation and contribution of its members,
  • Guiding fosters a spirit of harmonious cooperation between children and adults, ensuring that responsibilities are shared equally among both genders,
  • Guiding, as a non-governmental organization, remains independent of any political affiliation and does not align with or endorse any specific party line.